Project report

Organ 4.0

Organ music and organ building have been listed as a UNESCO intangible world cultural heritage since 2017. Organ building is still constantly evolving today. Modern organ consoles are themselves already specialized computers. Under the title "Singing - Organ 4.0", Axel Berndt collaborated with church music director Peter Ammer (Ev. Kirchengemeinde Nagold) to explore and constructively discuss the prospects, opportunities and risks of digital technology in organ building, organ playing and, in particular, for vocal accompaniment and the organization of church services within a broad thematic framework. It did not stop with good words. The organs of the Stadtkirche in Nagold were brought up to the latest technical standard, their sounds were digitized (sampled), and basic software tools such as the MIDI Bridge and the Nagold Hauptwerk Converter were created, which facilitate interoperability between organ and computer and open up exciting new possibilities for organ playing for amateurs and professionals alike.

Axel Berndt demonstrating his “Organ 4.0” project on a laptop and an electric piano. Next to him is a visitor looking at the application.

Project participants

Axel Berndt

Project status

Development

How and what?

Communication between organ and computer takes place via MIDI, the "Musical Instrument Digital Interface", a standard that defines musical control signals to control electronic musical instruments. If the actions of an organ are electrified, it is also possible to control them via MIDI. The organ console also sends such control signals, typically directly to the organ. Here, however, we can interpose a computer that can enrich human playing in a variety of ways.

The Midi Bridge

The MIDI Bridge is a translator of MIDI control signals. These translations may just simplify communication with the organ. However, they can also be defined completely freely and used very creatively. This allows for the definition of any mixtures, automatic chord accompaniment, transpositions, the notes can be freely swapped or redirected to other manuals. The notes may draw stops. We can give organists practically a third hand.

The Nagold Hauptwerk Converter

The Nagold Hauptwerk Converter makes it possible to play back recordings made on the Stadtkirche organ and saved as MIDI files in the digital replica of this organ in the Hauptwerk program. The reverse is also possible. For example, organists can prepare their performances at home and take them to the real organ.

The Arpeggiatorum

Arpeggiatorum is a highly flexible arpeggiator, as we know it from synthesizers, which is now available for organ playing for the first time. On Sept. 16, 2023, visitors of Paderborn Cathedral were able to play the large cathedral organs themselves with Arpeggiatorum as part of the " Expedition Wissenschaft". At the end of the day, cathedral organist Tobias Aehlig performed several improvisations with the Arpeggiatorum in concert.

Matching amounts for this project

Day of the Organ in the church on Schubertplatz
at 30.10.2024
Project contribution
On 08.09.2024 Cantor Gregor Schwarz, Maria Kallionpää and Axel Berndt organized the Day of the Organ in the Heilig Kreuz Church in Detmold.

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